Scythe.



F. W. SGHIELDS.

SCYTHE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 111:0. 11, 1912.

1,095,179. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

jwuewlioz OOLUIIIA PLANOGIAPN unwwm. D. c.

FRITZ w. SCI-IIELDS, or ATLANTIC, Iowa, assrenon r ATLANTIC, IOWA.

0 CHARLES A. GOEKEN, OF

SCYTHE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Application filed December 11, 1912. Serial No. 736,231.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ W. ScHmLDs, a citizen of the United States, residin at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and tate of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scythes, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in scythes, and an object thereof is the provision of a device of this character in which an adjustable connection is provided between the handle and the blade so that the blade may be adjusted to any angle with relation to the handle.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device of this character in which the opposed ends of the blade and the handle are provided with detachable connecting members, each of the members being formed with an annular series of teeth which are adapted to engage with each other, and means for clamping the connecting members together so that the blade will be held at any desired angle with relation to the handle.

Vith these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the handle and the knife blade connected together. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation showiug one of the connecting members applied to the knife blade, and, Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the other connecting member applied to the handle.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the handle of the scythe, the handle being provided with the usual handholds 2. Mounted on the outer end of the handle by bolts 3 or other suitable fastening devices, is a sleeve 4:, the outer end of which is formed with an enlarged annular head 5, which is formed with a central opening 6. Secured to the heel portion 7 of the scythe blade 8, is a plate 9, the upper end of which is formed with an enlarged annular head 10 which has formed therein a central angular opening 11. The head 10 is formed on one face with an annular series of raidally extending teeth 12 which are adapted for engagement with a similar series of teeth 13 formed upon the enlarged head 5 of the sleeve 4t. The head 10 of the member 9 is provided at the inner edge of the annular series of teeth 12 with a circular flange 20 which projects beyond the longitudinal edges of said teeth. By the provision of this flange, a chamber or space 14 is formed which is concentrically related to the bolt receiving opening 11 therein.

' A bolt 16 is adapted to be passed through the registering openings 6 and 11 in the connecting members, the shank of the bolt being angular, as at 17, for a portion of its length for engagement with the angular opening 11, the bolt having a threaded end 18 which is adapted to be passed through the opening 6 in the head 5, and a nut 19 is adapted for engagement with the threaded end 18 of the bolt for holding the teeth for the respective sections of the connecting members in engagement with each other for holding the blade rigidly in adjusted position.

The connecting member 5 is formed with an annular depression or groove 21 which is adapted to receive the rib 20 when the sections are connected together. hen the sections have been adjusted. it will be seen that the edge portion of the rib 20 on the section 10 will engage the groove 21 on the section 5 and prevent movement of the blade 8 radially with relation to the bolt 16.

It will be seen from the above description taken'in connection with the accompanying drawing that when it is desired to change the position of the scythe blade with rela tion to the handle thereof, it is only necessary to loosen the nut 19 so that the teeth on the connecting members may be disengaged, whereupon the blade may be adjusted to the desired angle and the nut 19 again tightened and the device is in a position for use.

A distinct advantage of my invention is, that when the device is not desired for use, the blade may be folded against the handle, so that the scythe will take up a minimum amount of space, and the liability of injury to the edge of the blade diminished.

While the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing is the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be under stood that minor changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, as determined by the scope V of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

, The combination with a scythe handle and blade, of connecting means therefor coman'annular series of teeth formed upon one face, and an annular groove at the inner ends of said teeth, said latter member being further provided with an annular flange inwardly of said groove for engagement against the inner face of the annular flange on said first named member, said latter flange being adapted for engagement in the groove of the last named member between the flange thereon and the inner ends of the teeth said connecting members and the handle bein provided with co-inciding openings, and means disposed therethrough to secure said members in adjusted relationship.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRITZ V. SCI-IIELDS. Witnesses FRANK E. SMITH, T. C. WHITMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, .D. G. 

